Method and apparatus for detecting and quantifying bacterial spores on a surface

ABSTRACT

A method and an apparatus for detecting and quantifying bacterial spores on a surface. In accordance with the method: bacterial spores are transferred from a place of origin to a test surface, the test surface comprises lanthanide ions. Aromatic molecules are released from the bacterial spores; a complex of the lanthanide ions and aromatic molecules is formed on the test surface, the complex is excited to generate a characteristic luminescence on the test surface; the luminescence on the test surface is detected and quantified.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Ser. No.60/740,805, Attorney Docket No. CIT-3989-P2 for “A Rapid Single SporeEnumeration Assay” filed on Nov. 30, 2005, incorporated herein byreference in its entirety. This application is a continuation-in-partapplication of U.S. Ser. No. 10/987,202 filed on Nov. 12, 2004 which isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety. This application mayalso be related to U.S. Ser. No. 10/306,331 filed on Nov. 27, 2002 andU.S. Ser. No. 10/355,462 filed on Jan. 31, 2003, both of which areincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

The present invention was made with support from the United StatesGovernment under Grant number NAS7-1407 awarded by NASA. The UnitedStates Government has certain rights in the invention.

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure relates to the field of chemical detection. Inparticular, a method and apparatus for detecting and quantifyingbacterial spores on a surface is disclosed.

Description of Related Art

Lanthanide complexes, particularly those of terbium (Tb⁺³) and europium(Eu⁺³), exhibit luminescence properties for the detection of aromaticbiomolecules. The detection scheme is based on the absorption-energytransfer-emission mechanism, which is triggered by the binding ofaromatic ligands to lanthanide complexes under UV excitation. Recentefforts have been focused on the detection of dipicolinic acid (DPA)(2,6-pyridinedicarboxylic acid), which is a unique constituent ofbacterial spores present at high concentrations (up to 1 M). Dipicolinicacid is also a commercially available product having the followingcharacteristics: CAS #: 499-83-2, Synonyms: 2,6 Pyridine DicarboxylicAcid, Molecular Formula: C₇H₅NO₄, Molecular Weight: 167.12, Description:White crystalline powder, Sulphated Ash: 0.3% max, Moisture Content:0.5% max, Melting Point: 242.0 to 245.0.degree. C., Assay: 99.0% min.

Bacterial spores are generally accepted to be indicator species forvalidating sterility since they are the most resilient form of lifeagainst sterilization regimens (Hindle and Hall, 1999 Analyst, 124,1599-1604). Sterility testing of surfaces is traditionally performed byeither (1) swabbing the surface with a cotton applicator, resuspendingthe swabbed spores, and plating the spore suspension onto growth media;or (2) using Replicate Organism Detection and Counting (RODAC) growthplates that are pressed against a surface to be analyzed. Each of thesetwo bacterial spore assays requires 3-5 days before results areavailable.

As mentioned, dipicolinic acid (DPA) is present in high concentrations(about 1 molar or about 15% of by weight) in the core of bacterialspores (Murell, 1969, Bad. Spore 1, 216). In its deprotonated state, DPAis dipicolinate (DP) and is found in a 1:1 complex with Ca²⁺ inside thespore, as shown in FIG. 1A. For all known life-forms, DPA is unique tobacterial spores and is naturally released into bulk solution upongermination—the process of spore-to-vegetative cell transformation. DPcan also be released upon lysis of the bacterial spore. Thus, DPA and/orDP are indicator molecules for the presence of bacterial spores. DPA isa classic inorganic chemistry ligand that binds metal ions with highaffinity. As mentioned, DPA takes the form of dipicolinate (DP) in itsdeprotonated form that binds to Ca²⁺. DPA binding to terbium ions (orother luminescent lanthanide or transition metal ions) triggers intensegreen luminescence under UV excitation as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C. Thegreen luminescence turn-on signal indicates the presence of bacterialspores. The intensity of the luminescence can be correlated to thenumber of bacterial spores per milliliter.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2003-0138876 for “Methodbacterial endospore quantification using lanthanide dipicolinateluminescence” discloses a lanthanide that is combined with a medium tobe tested for endospores. Dipicolinic acid released from the endosporesbinds the lanthanides, which have distinctive emission (i.e.,luminescence) spectra, and are detected using photoluminescence. Theconcentration of spores is determined by preparing a calibration curvethat relates emission intensities to spore concentrations for testsamples with known spore concentrations. A lanthanide complex is used asthe analysis reagent, and is comprised of lanthanide ions bound tomultidentate ligands that increase the dipicolinic acid binding constantthrough a cooperative binding effect with respect to lanthanidechloride. The resulting combined effect of increasing the bindingconstant and eliminating coordinated water and multiple equilibriaincreases the sensitivity of the endospore assay by an estimated threeto four orders of magnitude over prior art of endospore detection basedon lanthanide luminescence.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004-0014154 for “Methods andapparatus for assays of bacterial spores” discloses a sample of unknownbacterial spores which is added to a test strip. The sample of unknownbacterial spores is drawn to a first sample region on the test strip bycapillary action. Species-specific antibodies are bound to the samplewhen the unknown bacterial spores match the species-specific antibodies,otherwise the sample is left unbound. DPA is released from the bacterialspores in the bound sample. Terbium ions are combined with the DPA toform a Tb-DPA complex. The combined terbium ions and DPA are excited togenerate a luminescence characteristic of the combined terbium ions andDPA to detect the bacterial spores. A live/dead assay is performed by arelease of the DPA for live spores and a release of DPA for all spores.The detection concentrations are compared to determine the fraction oflive spores. Lifetime-gated measurements of bacterial spores toeliminate any fluorescence background from organic chromophores compriselabeling the bacterial spore contents with a long-lifetime lumophore anddetecting the luminescence after a waiting period. Unattended monitoringof bacterial spores in the air comprises the steps of collectingbacterial spores carried in the air and repeatedly performing the Tb-DPAdetection steps above.

Exciting the combined terbium ions and DPA generates a luminescencecharacteristic of the combined terbium ions and DPA. This is achieved byradiating the combined terbium ions and DPA with ultraviolet light.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004-0014154 further discloses amethod for live/dead assay for bacterial spores comprising the steps of:providing a solution including terbium ions in a sample of live and deadbacterial spores; releasing DPA from viable bacterial spores bygermination from a first unit of the sample; combining the terbium ionswith DPA in solution released from viable bacterial spores; exciting thecombined terbium ions and DPA released from viable bacterial spores togenerate a first luminescence characteristic of the combined terbiumions and DPA to detect the viable bacterial spores; releasing DPA fromdead bacterial spores in a second unit of the sample by autoclaving,sonication or microwaving; combining the terbium ions with the DPA insolution released from dead bacterial spores; exciting the combinedterbium ions and DPA released from dead bacterial spores to generate asecond luminescence characteristic of the combined terbium ions and DPAto detect the dead bacterial spores; generating a ratio of the first tosecond luminescence to yield a fraction of bacterial spores which arealive.

U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2004-0014154 also discloses amethod for unattended monitoring of bacterial spores in the aircomprising the steps of collecting bacterial spores carried in the air;suspending the collected bacterial spores in a solution includingterbium ions; releasing DPA from the bacterial spores; combining theterbium ions with DPA in solution; exciting the combined terbium ionsand DPA to generate a luminescence characteristic of the combinedterbium ions and DPA; detecting the luminescence to determine thepresence of the bacterial spores; and generating an alarm signal whenthe presence of bacterial spores is detected or the concentrationthereof reaches a predetermined magnitude.

Currently, bioburden levels are determined using the culture-dependedmethods, with which bacterial spores are quantified in terms of colonyforming units (CFU's) that become visible on growth plates afterincubation. There are several limitations for culture-dependent methods.First, this process requires 3-5 days to complete. Second, a largenumber of bacterial spores can aggregate on individual particulatesgiving rise to a single CFU, and thus a large underestimation of thebioburden. Third, colony-counting methods only account for cultivablespore-forming species, which constitute less than 1% in environmentalsamples.

It is desirable to provide a more efficient and sensitive method andapparatus for transferring all spore-forming bacteria (most especiallybacteria of the genus Bacillus and Clostridium) originating on asurface, in the air or in water to a test surface, quantifying thespores, and further characterizing these spores as viable or nonviable.

SUMMARY

According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a method isprovided for detecting and quantifying individual bacterial sporescomprising: capturing the bacterial spores; transferring the bacterialspores to a test surface; providing one or more lanthanide ions on thetest surface; releasing aromatic molecules from the bacterial spores onthe test surface; forming a complex of the one or more lanthanide ionsand the aromatic molecules on the test surface; exciting the complex togenerate a characteristic luminescence of the complex on the testsurface; and detecting and quantifying the bacterial spores exhibitingthe luminescence of the complex on the test surface.

According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a method isprovided for quantifying viable and nonviable bacterial sporescomprising: capturing the bacterial spores; transferring the bacterialspores to a test surface; providing one or more lanthanide ions to thetest surface; releasing aromatic molecules from the bacterial spores bygermination of the bacterial spores on the test surface; forming a firstcomplex of the one or more lanthanide ions and the aromatic molecules onthe test surface; exciting the first complex to generate acharacteristic luminescence of the first complex on the test surface;detecting and quantifying the bacterial spores exhibiting theluminescence of the first complex on the surface; releasing aromaticmolecules from nongerminated spores on the test surface by lysis;forming a second complex of the one or more lanthanide ions andlysis-released aromatic molecules on the test surface; exciting thesecond complex to generate a characteristic luminescence of the secondcomplex on the test surface; and detecting and quantifying the nonviablebacterial spores exhibiting the luminescence of the second complex onthe test surface.

According to third aspect of the present disclosure, a method isprovided for quantifying the percent viable spores in a mixed populationof viable and nonviable bacterial pores comprising: transferringbacterial spores from a place of origin to a test surface comprising oneor more lanthanide ions; inducing release of DPA/DP molecules from thetransferred bacterial spores by germination; forming a first complex ofthe one or more lanthanide ions and the DPA/DP molecules; exciting thefirst complex with UV radiation; quantifying the luminescence of thefirst complex; subsequently inducing release of DPA/DP by lysis ofnon-germinated bacterial spores on the test surface; forming a secondcomplex of the one or more lanthanide ions and lysis-induced DPA/DPmolecules; exciting the second complex with UV radiation; quantifyingthe luminescence of the second complex; and dividing the quantifiedluminescence from the first complex by the sum of the luminescence ofthe first and second complexes.

According to a fourth aspect of the present disclosure, an apparatus isprovided for detecting and quantifying bacterial spores comprising: anultraviolet light radiation device to excite a complex of lanthanideions and aromatic molecules and generate a characteristic luminescenceof the complex; a microscope for detecting and quantifying bacterialspores exhibiting the luminescence of the complex; and an imaging deviceconnected with the microscope for imaging the luminescence.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a microscopic image of a spore (about 1 μm in diameter)highlighting a DPA rich spore core.

FIG. 1B is a diagram of a Tb³⁺ ion (shaded ball) which by itself has alow absorption cross section (<10 M⁻¹m¹) and consequently has lowluminescence intensity. The Tb³⁺ ion can bind the light harvestingDPA/DP (absorption cross section >10⁴M⁻¹cm⁻¹) originating from thespore. DPA/DP binding gives rise to bright Tb luminescence.

FIG. 1C is a diagram of a photophysical scheme for DPA/DP sensitizedluminescence of the Tb-DPA complex (absorption-energy transfer-emission,AETE).

FIG. 2A is a photograph of a cotton swab being used to capture bacterialspores from a surface (Example 1).

FIG. 2B is a photograph of PDMS polymer for capturing bacterial sporesfrom surfaces (Example 1).

FIG. 2C is a photograph of a water filter for capturing bacterial sporesfrom water (Example 1).

FIG. 2D is a photograph of an air filter as described herein forcapturing bacterial spores from air. (Example 1).

FIG. 3 depicts a photograph of a backlight illuminated quartz slide withthree solidified agar drops. (A) No Tb³⁺ added. (B) T³⁺ added but noL-alanine (C) Tb³⁺ and L-alanine added with photograph taken aftergermination was complete.

FIG. 4 depicts four 1 mm thick pieces of PDMS inoculated with B.subtilus spores. (A) Plasma cleaned and placed onto Tb³⁺-doped agar (B)Plasma cleaned and placed onto Tb³⁺-doped agar. (C) Not plasma cleaned,placed onto Tb³⁺-doped agar. (D) Not plasma cleaned, place ontoTb³⁺-doped agar.

FIG. 5 depicts a schematic apparatus for imaging quantifying andcounting of bacterial spores (Example 3).

FIG. 6 depicts Eu³⁺ microspheres (1 μm) on fluorescent paper imaged withan ImageX-TGi gated CCD camera mounted on a Carl Zeiss fluorescencemicroscope with 40-times objective, excited with a 300 Hz Perkin Elmerflashlamp. Images are obtained (A) without gating, (B) with gating (100μs delay, 2.7 μs gate), and (C) 100 m reference graticule to estimatespatial resolution.

FIG. 7 depicts two lifetime-gated photographs showing bacterial sporeson R2A agar before germination (left portion of the figure) and aftergermination (right portion of the figure).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Transfer of Bacterial Spores from Place of Origin

The lanthanide ion-DPA/DP luminescence assay can be employed to detectindividual bacterial spores from a place of origin. DPA/DP refers to DPAand/or DP. In other words, DPA/DP means at least one between DPA and DP.A place of origin includes any solid surface, water and/or air. In orderto posit the bacterial spores onto a test surface, the bacterial sporesare first captured from a place of origin. A place of origin can includean infinite number of possibilities. Bacterial spores on solid surfacesare transferred from the solid surface onto a cotton swab (FIG. 2A), oran adhesive polymer, such as PDMS (polydimethyl siloxane) agar oragarose (FIG. 2B). Bacterial spores in water are transferred from wateronto a water filter (e.g. membrane filter)(FIG. 2C). Bacterial spores inthe air are transferred from the air onto an air filter (FIG. 2D).Examples of each of these types of transfer methods are described inExample 1.

The step of collecting bacterial spores carried in the air comprisescapturing the bacterial spores with an aerosol sampler or impactor.Preferably, the step of collecting bacterial spores carried in the aircomprises continuously sampling the air. In one embodiment, air ispassed over quartz filter tape using an air sampler (Example 1).Alternatively, air can be passed over lanthanide-doped agar using an airsampler.

Test Surface

The test surface may be the same surface onto which the bacterial sporeswere transferred from the place of origin. In this case, a secondtransfer onto a test surface is not necessary. However, if thetransferring surface is not to be the test surface, then the bacterialspores are transferred onto the test surface. The present inventionprovides a method of using a test surface on which bacterial spores areposited. Once the bacterial spores are located on the test surface, theycan be induced to release DPA/DP by germination and/or physical lysis.

In one embodiment, the test surface contains an adhesive polymer. Inanother embodiment, the test surface contains (is “doped with”) agerminating agent. In another embodiment, the test surface, onto whichbacterial spores are transferred, contains (is “doped with”) a lysingagent or is subjected to a method of lysis. In another embodiment, thetest surface contains (is “doped with”) lanthanide ions. In yet anotherembodiment, the test surface is transparent allowing for detection ofthe luminescence produced from the excited lanthanide-DPA complex. In apreferred embodiment, the test surface is an adhesive polymer (PDMS,agar, agarose) that contains a germinating agent, contains lanthanideions, and is transparent, allowing for detection of lanthanide-DPAluminescence (FIG. 3). In a second preferred embodiment, the testsurface is an adhesive polymer that contains a germinating agent,contains or is subjected to a lysing agent or method of lysis, containslanthanide ions, and is transparent, allowing for detection oflanthanide-DPA luminescence. Alternatively, a test surface is anadhesive polymer that contains or is subject to a lysing agent or amethod of lysis, contains lanthanide ions and is transparent, allowingfor detection of lanthanide-DPA luminescence (FIG. 4).

According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, bacterial sporescaptured from a solid surface using cotton swabs can be transferred ontoa test surface by resuspending the spores on the cotton swab into water,and then plating the water suspension onto a test surface. The bacterialspores on the cotton swab could also be suspended into water followed byfiltration of the water suspension through a membrane water filter. Thespores embedded onto the membrane water filter are then streaked onto atest surface (Example 1, 2). Alternatively, the membrane filter is thetest surface. Alternatively, the swab is not made of cotton, but is madeof any suitable material.

Examples of adhesive polymers include but are not limited to:polydimethyl siloxane (PDMS). Alternatively, agar can be doped withPDMS. Similarly, agarose can be doped with PDMS. In a preferredembodiment the adhesive polymer, PDMS, used to capture the bacterialspores from the surface of origin is subsequently used as a testsurface. PDMS has low chemical activity, it is hydrophobic, it isoptically transparent above 250 nm and it is impermeable to water. Withthese characteristics, a PDMS test surface allows for induction oflanthanide-DPA/DP luminescence, detection and quantifying. In oneembodiment of the present disclosure, the test surface is opticallytransparent greater than 250 nm. In an alternative embodiment, the testsurface is partially transparent.

In a second embodiment, the spores captured from a place of origin usingan adhesive polymer are subsequently transferred from the adhesivepolymer. This transfer can be carried out using several methods easilyenvisioned by one skilled in the art. For example, the spores can bestreaked onto a test surface (Example 2).

In another embodiment, spores captured onto a membrane filter aretransferred onto a test surface by a streaking method as disclosed inExample 2. Alternatively, spores on a membrane filter are physicallylysed on the membrane filter and then pressed against an adhesivepolymer such as PDMS containing lanthanide ions. Similarly, spores on amembrane filter can be streaked (Example 2) onto an adhesive polymer(e.g. PDMS, agar, agarose) that contains lanthanide ions and L-alaninefor induction of germination. In another embodiment, the membrane filterembedded with the bacterial spores is used as the test surface.

The step of collecting bacterial spores carried in the air comprisescapturing the bacterial spores with an aerosol sampler or impactor.Preferably, the step of collecting bacterial spores carried in the aircomprises continuously sampling the air. In one embodiment, air ispassed over quartz filter tape using an air sampler (Example 1). In oneaspect the quartz filter tape is subsequently as the test surface.Alternatively, air can be passed over lanthanide-doped agar using an airsampler.

The agents used for germination and the agents used for lysing can beadded to the test surface before or after the bacterial spores have beentransferred onto the test surface. Alternatively, the agents used forgermination the agents used for lysing can be added in a mixture withthe transfer of the bacterial spores. Examples of a germinating agentinclude but are not limited to: L-alanine, L-asparagine and D-glucose.Examples of lysing methods include but are not limited to: microwaving,plasma cleaning, dry heating, autoclaving, sonicating and hydrogenchloride gassing.

When the step of releasing DPA from the bacterial spores comprisesmicrowaving the bacterial spores to heat the solution, the step ofcombining the lanthanide ions with the DPA in solution comprises coolingthe heated solution to increase the fraction of bound lanthanide-DPAcomplex. One of skill in the art can envision several methods to prepare(“dope”) the test surface for germination. Likewise, one of skill in theart can envision several methods to prepare (“dope”) the test surfacefor lysing.

Lanthanide ions can be added to the test surface before the bacterialspores have been transferred onto said test surface, after the bacterialspores have been transferred onto said test surface, or in a mixturewith the bacterial spores being transferred to the test surface.Lanthanide ions can be added before, after or in conjunction with theinduced release of DPA/DP from the bacterial spores. Examples oflanthanide ions include, but are not limited to: terbium (Tb³⁺),europium (Eu³⁺) and dysprosium. In a preferred embodiment terbium (Tb³⁺)ions are used.

Inducing the Lanthanide-DPA/DP Luminescence

A lanthanide ion-DPA/DP luminescence assay can be employed to detectindividual bacterial spores on surfaces. For example, thelanthanide-DPA/DP luminescence assay can be combined with an opticallytransparent, adhesive polymer (PDMS, agar or agarose) to collectbacterial spores from surfaces to be tested. Once the bacterial sporesarc located on the test surface, they can be induced to release theirDPA/DP content by germination (e.g. using L-alanine) or physical lysis,for example by autoclaving or microwaving. The highly concentratedDPA/DP from the spores spills into the surrounding area, generating ahigh concentration region around the spore body. The reagents used fordetection and induction of germination, if that is the chosen method forDPA/DP release, can be added into the matrix before or after the sporesare sampled. The lanthanide-DPA/DP luminescence arising from the regionaround the spore body is then imaged onto a camera. The bacterial sporeregions manifest themselves as bright spots that can be counted. Due tothe long-lived excited states of luminescent lanthanides, lifetime-gateddetection enables any fluorescent background from interferences to beeliminated. Lifetime gating drastically reduces the background andenables much greater contrast between the lanthanide-DPA/DP luminescenceregions and the background.

It is understood by one skilled in the art, that upon release of DPAand/or DP outside the bacterial spore, the DPA and/or DP molecules caninteract with other substances in its environment, resulting in aderivative of DPA or DP.

The step of detecting the luminescence to determine the presence of thebacterial spores comprises monitoring the luminescence with aspectrometer or fluorimeter, and the step of detecting the luminescenceto determine the presence of the bacterial spores comprises continuouslymonitoring the luminescence.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an adhesive polymer for theterbium-DPA/DP luminescence assay for bacterial spores on surfaces ispolydimethyl siloxane (PDMS) doped with TbCl₃ and L-alanine. TheL-alanine induces germination to release the DPA/DP from the core of thespore to the immediate surroundings. The TbCl₃ binds the DPA/DP, whichtriggers green luminescence (543.5 nm) under UV excitation (250-300 nm)that can be quantified with a photodetector. Individual germinatingspores can be imaged within a microscope field of view using alifetime-gated camera.

From the perspective of sensor design, the bacterial spore isessentially a 1 μm sphere containing about 10⁹ molecules of DPA. Inprevious experiments (U.S. Patent Pub No. 2004-0014154), spores werecollected from surfaces using the standard cotton swabbing method,resuspended into water, and DPA/DP was then released into a bulksolution by germination or physical lysing and a subsequent lanthanide(Tb)-DPA luminescence assay was performed. This approach led to verydilute DPA solutions (e.g., 1 spore per ml of solution yields [DPA]=1μM), which ultimately limits the sensitivity. As disclosed in thepresent invention, spores collected using the cotton swab can besuspended into water, and the water suspension can then be plated onto atesting surface for subsequent DPA/DP release, lanthanide-DPA/DPcomplexing, excitation, lumination and quantification. Alternatively,the water suspension can be filtered through a membrane filter and thespores on the filter can be streaked onto a testing surface.

The traditional culture-based assays require 3 days for colonies to growand be counted. This traditional culture-based assay, also known as theNASA standard assay, is reported in colony forming units (CFU), sincethe quantification is based on the number of colonies. However, asignificant fraction of bacterial spores can undergo stage-1germination, during which DPA (i.e., the chemical marker that is uniqueto bacterial spores) is released, in less than 4 minutes. This type ofquantification, is reported as germinating spore units (GSU).Experimental results shown herein (Table 1) show a comparison of the GSUcalculated following the teachings disclosed in this application, versusthe CFU calculation of the NASA standard assay for the same amount ofstarting spores (total spore units/TSU). FIG. 3 further shows anL-alanine induced germination of Bacillus subtilis spores on a TbCl₃doped agar. The DPA/DP released upon germination luminesces whencomplexed with the Tb³⁺ ions. (Example 2).

Detection, Imaging and Quantification of Lanthanide-DPA/DP Luminescence

A salient feature of the present disclosure is the implementation oflifetime-gated imaging to obtain an image with good contrast ofbacterial spores after germination and/or lysis. Fluorescence lifetimeimaging uses special detectors and light source technology to generateimages wherein the contrast is related to the fluorescence lifetimeacross a sample. Lifetime gating takes advantage of the fact thatlanthanide ion (e.g. terbium) luminescence lifetimes are on the order ofmilliseconds, while fluorescence lifetimes from impurities generally areon the order of nanoseconds. Lifetime gating drastically reduces thechance of false negatives, which could arise if the lanthanide ionluminescence is masked by background fluorescence from impurities.

More specifically, the imaging method takes advantage of the fact that abacterial spore is essentially a 1 μm diameter bag comprising 10⁸molecules of DPA and/or DP. Releasing DPA/DP by thermal lysis orgermination in the presence of lanthanide ions generates local highlanthanide-DPA/DP concentrations (in the millimolar range) withcorrespondingly high luminescence intensities. When the luminescence“halo” surrounding the spore body is imaged into individuallifetime-gated CCD detector elements, individual spores will be easilycounted. Even when spores are clustered together, the spore counts percluster will be proportional to the intensity arising from a cluster.Thus, the resultant “bright spots” or “halos” are counted and the numberof spores per bright spot is estimated by the luminescence of the spot(i.e. the spot intensity). The lifetime gating allows imaging of thelong-lived lanthanide-DPA/DP excited state in the presence ofshort-lived fluorescence interferences (impurities, etc).

Under UV (blacklight) illumination, the luminescence of the embeddedTb³⁺ ions increased dramatically upon germination within 40 minutes ofthe bacterial spores, while the embedded Tb³⁺ luminescence in thecontrol sample that had no exposure to L-alanine remained weak (FIG. 3).An agar control sample without Tb³⁺ that was covered with bacterialspores also did not yield detectable luminescence. Note that the brightedges of the spots are artifacts of drying due to refraction fromaccumulated material, which would not appear in a lifetime-gated image.

An example of imaged Tb-DPA/DP complex representing spores on a PDMStest surface containing Tb³⁺ ions, which were subsequently lysed usingplasma cleaning are shown in FIG. 4. Those spores that were not subjectto plasma cleaning, and thus did not lyse and release DPA/DP, did notexhibit fluorescence (panel C and D of FIG. 4).

The pictures in FIG. 3 were taken without magnification, and thus theindividual spores cannot be enumerated as they germinate. However, thepresent disclosure provides germinating bacterial spores imaged with alifetime-gated microscope (FIG. 5, Example 3). As the spores germinate,DPA is released from the core to generate high, localized DPA/DPconcentrations, which show up as bright green luminescent halossurrounding the spore body. These results demonstrate that viablebacterial spores on surfaces can be enumerated (quantified) according tomethods of the present invention. In another embodiment, viable andnonviable bacterial spores on surfaces are enumerated according to themethod of the present invention. In a further embodiment, viable and/ornonviable spores on surfaces are enumerated according to the discloseddevice of the present invention.

FIG. 6 shows lifetime-gated images of Eu³⁺ microspheres on highlyfluorescent paper obtained with an Imagex-TGi lifetime-gated CCD cameramounted on a Carl Zeiss fluorescence microscope with 40× objective,excited with a 300 Hz Perkin elmer flashlamp (Example 3). Eu³⁺microspheres were employed because they are commercially available andhave analogous photophysical properties. The ImageX system effectivelyrejected all of the strong background fluorescence when a delay time of100 μs was used. The present invention allows for microspheresexhibiting weak, long-lived luminescence immobilized on a highlyfluorescent matrix to be imaged with high contrast against a silentbackground when gating is applied.

Another example of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 7. Bacterialspores were added onto the surface of R2A agar doped with 10 μML-alanine (Example 1) to induce germination and 100 μM TbCl₃ to generatebright luminescent spots around the spore body as they germinated andreleased DPA/DP. A Xe-flash lamp firing at 300 Hz with a 275 nminterference filter provided excitation for the Tb-DPA complex, and thecorresponding bright spots from the bacterial spore Tb-DPA luminescenthalos were imaged with a lifetime-gated camera set at a delay time of100 μS and an integration time of 2 ms. The individual bacterial sporesbecome clearly visible as countable spots after germination. The imagesshown in FIG. 7 can be obtained by an apparatus as shown in FIG. 5. Theapparatus of FIG. 5 comprises: 1) an ultraviolet light radiation device10 (e.g., a Xenon flash lamp); 2) a first elliptical lens 20 and asecond elliptical lens 30; 3) The light radiation device 10 and thelenses 20, 30 (40 represents the space in between the lenses) can have a45 degrees inclination with respect to a stage or test surface 50 wherethe bacterial spores are located. The distance between lens 30 and stage50 can be one inch. The distance between light radiation device 10 andstage 50 can be two inches. The light radiation device 10 is adapted toexcite a complex of one or more lanthanide ions and aromatic moleculesand generate a characteristic luminescence of the complex; 4) amicroscope 60 for detecting and quantifying bacterial spores exhibitingthe luminescence of the complex. 5) A red bandpass filter 70, suitablefor Eu3+, can be connected with the microscope 60; 6) an imaging device80 (e.g., a nanoCCD camera) connected with the microscope 60.

Quantifying Viable Bacterial Spores

Instead of diluting the DPA/DP into bulk solution, bacterial spores canbe immobilized onto a test surface such as an adhesive polymer (e.g.,PDMS, agar with PDMS, agarose with PDMS), and then induced to germinateor lyse on the polymer test surface to generate local high DPA/DPconcentrations (i.e, DPA and/or DP remains in the immediate surroundingsof the spore body). To obtain viable counts, germination is induced bydoping L-alanine (or other gemination inducing agents) into the polymermatrix; lanthanide ions (e.g. TbCl₃) also doped into the polymer, allowfor imaging and quantification of bacterial spores by triggeringluminescence in the presence of DPA/DP. To obtain total counts, thebacterial spores immobilized on the polymer test surface containinglanthanide ion are physically lysed (e.g., by dry heating, microwaving,sonication, plasma cleaning, hydrogen chloride gassing or autoclaving)and the subsequent fluorescence emitted upon excitation of thelanthanide-DPA/DP complex is imaged and quantified resulting in thetotal number of live and dead bacterial spores.

The present disclosure also provides a method and apparatus to measurethe fraction of bacterial spores that remain viable or alive, hence alive/dead assay for bacterial spores. The method combines dipicolinicacid/dipicolinate-triggered lanthanide luminescence and DPA/DP releasefrom (1) viable bacterial spore through germination, and (2) DPA/DPrelease subsequent to lysis of all viable and nonviable bacterialspores. The ratio of the results from steps (1) to the sum of steps (1)and (2) yield the fraction of bacterial spores that are alive.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, a method is provided forquantifying the percentage of viable spores in a population mixture ofviable and inviable spores. In a preferred embodiment, the method forquantifying the percent viable spores in a mixed population of viableand inviable spores comprises transferring bacterial spores from theirplace of origin onto a test surface containing lanthanide ions, inducinggermination of DPA/DP from the transferred bacterial spores, excitingthe lanthanide-DPA/DP complex with UV radiation, quantifying theluminescence associated with the lanthanide-DPA/DP of germination,subsequently lysing the non-germinated bacterial spores on the testsurface, exciting the lysis-induced lanthanide-DPA/DP complex with UVradiation, and quantifying the luminescence associated with thelanthanide-DPA/DP of lysis. Using the same test surface for germinationand subsequent lysis allows for an accurate calculation of the percentviable spores in any given mixed population of viable and non-viablespores. The ability to rapidly quantify the fraction of viable bacterialspores from various origins (e.g. solid surfaces, water and air) is anessential feature of the present invention.

The method and apparatus of the present disclosure provide the imagingof the spherical resolution of the high concentrating region of DPA (the“halo”) around each spore body, which has been germinated or lysed. Thepresent method makes it possible to detect and quantify extremely lowconcentrations of bacterial spores in very short time. The method andapparatus for bacterial spore detection and quantification according tothe present disclosure yields results within minutes and requiresapproximately an hour for quantifying the percent viability of bacterialspores on surfaces.

Bioburden testing is an assessment of the numbers and types ofmicroorganisms present on a product, and may be used to supportsterilization validations. Sterility determination for surfaces arerequired by the pharmaceutical, health care, and food preparationindustries for compliance with bioburden standards as outlined by USP,FDA, PDA, and AAMI.

TABLE 1 Results from experiments performed according to Examples 1-3Surface Sampling: Swab Rinse 1540 TSU/cm²  710 GSU/cm²  120 CFU/cm²Ratio of GSU/CFU: 3.38 Water Sampling: 5.0 × 104 TSU/cm² 3.4 × 104GSU/cm² 1.2 × 104 CFU/cm² Ratio of GSU/CFU: 2.83 Air Sampling: 0.05GSU/l of air 0.01 CFU/l of air Ratio of GSU/CFU: 5.0 TSU: Total SporeUnits GSU: Germinating Spore Units CFU: Colony Formation Units

While several illustrative embodiments have been shown and described inthe above description, numerous variations and alternative embodimentswill occur to those skilled in the art. Such variations and alternativeembodiments are contemplated, and can be made without departing from thescope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Example 1 Bacterial Spore Capture/Transfer Methods

Capture from Solid Surfaces:

(FIG. 2A,B) For capture of bacterial spores from solid surfaces,adhesive polymer polydimethylsiloxan (PDMS) was used, purchased from DowCorning. D2A agar (Difco) was also used in the capture of bacterialspores from solid surfaces. Cotton swabbing of solid surfaces: cottonswabs with bacterial spores were either suspended into water and platedonto testing surface, or water suspension of spores was filtered onto0.2-μm membrane filter and then transferred onto test surface by“streaking” (Example 2) (See Table 1).

Capture from Water:

(FIG. 2C) For capture of bacterial spores from water a 0.2-μm membranefilter was used (Millipore). One of skill in the art can envisionseveral mechanisms for separating and collecting bacterial spores fromwater using variations on the disclosed membrane water filter discussedabove. Transfer of spores from filter to a testing surface is done by“streaking” (Example 2) (See Table 1).

Capture from Air:

(FIG. 2D) For capture of bacterial spores from air, quartz filter tape(Whatman) is used in combination with an air sampler (BioscienceInternational: SAS Super 100/180/360). The quartz filter tape is thensuspended in water, and the water suspension is then plated onto thetesting surface, or the water suspension is filter through a membranefilter which is then streaked onto the testing surface. Alternatively,the quartz filter can be used as the test surface (See Table 1).

Bacterial Spores:

Bacillus (Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus atrophaeus etc.)spores from American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) were used in theexamples provided herein. Stock solutions of purified endospores wereprepared according to methods well known in the art. Plating ofsuspended spores was carried out by methods well known in the art (W.Nicholson and P. Setlow, “Sporulation, germination and outgrowth,”Molecular biology methods for bacillus, S. Cutting, Ed. Sussex, England:John Wiley and Sons, 1990, 391-450).

Example 2 Test Surface

“Streaking”:

Spores on the surface of a membrane filter are transferred to a testsurface by contacting the two surfaces at one end and dragging across tothe other end to effect the transfer of spores from a membrane onto atest surface. This process is referred to as “streaking”. Alternativelyspores on an adhesive polymer such as PDMS can also be streaked from thepolymer onto a test surface.

Bacteria spores were immobilized onto a test sample surface of thin,flexible, clear, adhesive polymer polydimethylsiloxan (PDMS) (DowCorning). PDMS was doped with L-alanine (Aldrich) to induce germinationand generate local high concentration of DPA/DP. TbCl₃ (Aldrich) wasalso doped into the PDMS sample. The bacterial spores immobilized on theL-alanine and TbCl₃-containing polymer were physically lysed bymicrowave irradiation (Vaid and Bishop, 1998?), wherein DPA/DP wasreleased and luminescence was turned on.

The test surface in FIG. 3 was prepared by adding 100 μl of R2A agar(doped with 1 mM TbCl₃ onto a quartz slide and allowing it to solidify.On top of the agar, 10 μl of 10⁹ spores/ml Bacillus subtilis spores wereadded (i.e., 10⁷ spores), followed by 10 μl of 1-mM L-alanine to inducegermination.

The test surface in FIG. 4 shows fours 1 mm thick flat pieces of PDMSinoculated with B. subtilus spores. The PDMS pieces shown in panel A andB were placed into a plasma cleaner for 30 minutes. The pieces shown inpanel C and D were not. Each of the four pieces were then placed ontoTb³⁺-doped agar. The two plasma cleaned pieces produced bright spotscorresponding to DPA/DP released from the B. subtilus spores during theplasma cleaning which complexed with the Tb³⁺ ions in the agar. The twonon-lysed PDMS test pieces did not produce bright spots because the B.subtilus spores on these pieces were not induced to release DPA/DP.

Example 3 Detection and Quantifying Apparatus

An Apparatus for Detecting and Quantifying Bacterial Spores on a SurfaceIncluding Lanthanide Ions and Aromatic Molecules Released from theBacterial Spores on the Surface.

The apparatus in FIG. 5 comprises a UV-light radiation device forexciting a complex of a Tb³⁺ ion and DPA/DP to generate a characteristicluminescence of the complex on a surface. The source for the UV-lightwas a Xenon flash lamp, which was approximately 5 cm away the testsurface. Between the Xenon flash lamp and the test surface were twoC-amount elliptical lenses. The Xenon flash lamp and the test substratewere positioned at an angle of 45 degrees to each other. The area ofirradiation by the Xenon flash lamp was observed by a microscopeobjective with a red bandpass filter suitable for Eu³⁺ for detecting andquantifying bacterial spores exhibiting the luminescence of the complexon the surface. The image was transferred from the microscope to theimaging device for imaging bacterial spores exhibiting the luminescence,using an imageX nanoCCD camera (Photonic Research Systems Ltd, UnitedKingdom). The pixel size on the camera is 11.6 microns horizontal by11.2 microns vertical and the camera has a chip with 752×582 pixels on a10.25 μm×8.5 mm vertical area. Lifetime gated images were captured witha 100-μs delay integrating for 2 milliseconds. 6 to 13 images were takenover different areas of the medium. Each image captured an actualagarose area of 3.2 mm² at 40× magnification. The spatial resolution isa function of the camera, the camera objective and the microscope cameraport. The microscope image is projected onto the camera port that thendetermines the spatial resolution.

1.-31. (canceled)
 32. A method for quantifying viable and non-viablebacterial spores in a population of individual bacterial spores, themethod comprising: applying one or more lanthanide ions and thepopulation of individual bacterial spores on a test surface; releasingfirst aromatic molecules from first individual bacterial spores in thepopulation of individual bacterial spores by germination of the firstindividual bacterial spores on the test surface; forming a first complexof the one or more lanthanide ions and the first aromatic molecules onthe test surface; exciting the first complex to generate acharacteristic luminescence of the first complex on the test surface;detecting and quantifying the first individual bacterial sporesexhibiting the luminescence of the first complex on the surface;releasing second aromatic molecules from second non-germinatedindividual bacterial spores in the population of individual bacterialspores on the test surface by lysis; forming a second complex of the oneor more lanthanide ions and the second aromatic molecules on the testsurface; exciting the second complex to generate a characteristicluminescence of the second complex on the test surface; and detectingand quantifying the second non-germinated individual bacterial sporesrepresented by the luminescence of the second complex on the testsurface by lifetime-gated imaging.
 33. The method according to claim 32,wherein the applying the population of individual bacterial spores onthe test surface comprises first capturing the population of individualbacterial spores, and then transferring the population of individualbacterial spores to the test surface.
 34. The method according to claim33, wherein the capturing the population of individual bacterial sporescomprises collecting the population of individual bacterial spores in anadhesive polymer.
 35. The method of claim 34, wherein the adhesivepolymer is selected from the group consisting of PDMS, agar and agarose.36. The method of claim 33, wherein the capturing of the population ofindividual bacterial spores comprises collecting the population ofindividual bacterial spores with a swab.
 37. The method of claim 36,further comprising transferring the population of individual bacterialspores from the swab into water.
 38. The method of claim 37, furthercomprising passing the water with the population of individual bacterialspores through a water filter.
 39. The method of claim 33, wherein thecapturing of the population of individual bacterial spores comprisescollecting the population of individual bacterial spores from waterand/or air.
 40. The method of claim 39, further comprising transferringthe population of individual bacterial spores from the water and/or airto an air filter and/or a water filter.
 41. The method of claim 32,wherein the test surface comprises PDMS, agar, agarose, PDMS togetherwith agar, PDMS together with agarose, or a combination thereof.
 42. Themethod of claim 32, wherein the test surface comprises at least onepartially transparent adhesive polymer.
 43. The method of claim 32,wherein the one or more lanthanide ions are provided to the test surfaceprior to the population of individual bacterial spores, after thepopulation of individual bacterial spores, or as a mixture with thepopulation of individual bacterial spores.
 44. The method of claim 32,wherein the one or more lanthanide ions comprises terbium and/oreuropium.
 45. The method of claim 32, wherein the first and/or secondaromatic molecules comprise dipicolinic acid, dipicolinate, dipicolinicacid together with dipicolinate, or a combination thereof.
 46. Themethod of claim 32, wherein the first and/or second aromatic moleculesinteract with the test surface resulting in one or more derivatives ofthe first and/or second aromatic molecules.
 47. The method of claim 32,wherein the germination of the first individual bacterial spores isinduced by a germinating agent selected from the group consisting ofL-alanine, L-asparagine, 0-glucose, and combinations thereof.
 48. Themethod of claim 32, wherein the lysis of the second non-germinatedindividual bacterial spores is induced by microwaving, autoclaving,sonication, plasma cleaning dry heating, and/or hydrogen chloridegassing.
 49. The method according to claim 32, wherein the exciting thefirst complex and/or the exciting the second complex comprisesexcitation by UV light.
 50. The method according to claim 32, furthercomprising quantifying the percent viable spores in the population ofbacterial spores by: detecting and quantifying the first individualbacterial spores represented by the luminescence of the first complex;and dividing the quantified first individual bacterial spores by thetotal number of bacterial spores in the population of individualbacterial spores.
 51. The method according to claim 32, furthercomprising quantifying the percent viable bacterial spores in thepopulation of bacterial spores by: detecting and quantifying the firstindividual bacterial spores represented by the luminescence of the firstcomplex; detecting and quantifying the second non-germinated individualbacterial spores represented by the luminescence of the second complex;and dividing the quantified luminescence of the first complex by the sumof the quantified luminescence of the first and second complexes.
 52. Amethod of claim 51, wherein the quantifying the first individualbacterial spores and/or the second non-germinated individual bacterialspores represented by the respective luminescence comprises counting thenumber of luminescent spots and estimating the number of individualbacterial spores per luminescent spot based on the spot intensity.